Security Threats and Vulnerabilities in Operating Systems: Master the Basics

Question 1

Identify the option that does NOT represent a common type of malware:

Accepted Answer

Firewall

Answer

Virus

Answer

Trojan horse

Answer

Spyware

Question 2

How does malware typically affect an operating system's performance?

Accepted Answer

Decreases system speed

Answer

Improves system stability

Answer

Increases security protection

Answer

Enhances user experience

Question 3

Define the term that describes a security flaw allowing an attacker to gain unauthorized access to a system or data.

Accepted Answer

Exploit

Answer

Backdoor

Answer

Patch

Answer

Firewall

Question 4

Which technique do hackers employ to gain unauthorized access to a network via an insecure wireless connection?

Accepted Answer

Man-in-the-Middle Attack

Answer

Phishing

Answer

Brute Force Attack

Answer

Social Engineering

Question 5

State the primary purpose of a firewall in an operating system's security architecture.

Accepted Answer

Prevent unauthorized access to the system

Answer

Detect and eliminate malware

Answer

Encrypt sensitive data

Answer

Perform system backups

Question 6

Differentiate between a virus and a worm by stating a critical distinction.

Accepted Answer

Viruses require a host program to spread, while worms can spread autonomously

Answer

Worms target specific software vulnerabilities, while viruses can infect any file type

Answer

Viruses are generally harmless, while worms can cause significant damage

Answer

Worms require user interaction to spread, while viruses do not

Question 7

Explain the primary role of encryption in safeguarding against security risks.

Accepted Answer

Preventing unauthorized access to sensitive data

Answer

Detecting and eradicating malware

Answer

Enhancing system performance

Answer

Backing up data

Question 8

Which of the following is **not** a common type of malware?

Accepted Answer

Firewall

Answer

Virus

Answer

Trojan horse

Answer

Worm

Question 9

What is the primary purpose of a firewall?

Accepted Answer

To prevent unauthorized access to a network

Answer

To detect and remove viruses

Answer

To back up data

Answer

To improve system performance

Question 10

Which of the following is a common social engineering technique used by hackers?

Accepted Answer

Phishing

Answer

Brute force attack

Answer

Buffer overflow

Answer

Cross-site scripting

Question 11

What is the primary goal of a security audit?

Accepted Answer

To identify and assess security risks

Answer

To install and configure security software

Answer

To train users on security best practices

Answer

To monitor and respond to security incidents

Question 12

What is the best defense against a virus attack?

Accepted Answer

Antivirus software

Answer

Firewall

Answer

Intrusion detection system

Answer

Data backup

Question 13

Which of the following security measures is most effective in preventing unauthorized access to physical devices?

Accepted Answer

Physical security

Answer

Authentication

Answer

Encryption

Answer

Biometrics

Question 14

Which of these is NOT a threat to operating system security?

Accepted Answer

Strong passwords

Answer

Viruses

Answer

Malware

Answer

Phishing

Question 15

What is the primary purpose of a firewall in operating system security?

Accepted Answer

Blocking unauthorized external network access

Answer

Detecting and eliminating malware

Answer

Encrypting sensitive data

Answer

Scanning for vulnerabilities

Question 16

What is a best practice for creating strong passwords?

Accepted Answer

Use a combination of uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols

Answer

Choose a password that is easy to remember

Answer

Reuse the same password for multiple accounts

Answer

Store passwords in a plain text file

Question 17

What is the role of security patches in mitigating operating system vulnerabilities?

Accepted Answer

To fix software flaws that could be exploited by attackers

Answer

To install new features and functionality

Answer

To optimize system performance

Answer

To protect against physical damage

Question 18

Which of the following is a key benefit of using a virtual private network (VPN) to enhance operating system security?

Accepted Answer

Encrypts internet traffic, protecting against eavesdropping

Answer

Provides remote access to resources

Answer

Blocks legitimate websites

Answer

Improves system performance

Question 19

What is the purpose of intrusion detection systems (IDS) in operating system security?

Accepted Answer

To monitor for suspicious activity and alert administrators

Answer

To prevent unauthorized access

Answer

To scan for malware

Answer

To encrypt data

Question 20

To assess the effectiveness of security measures in an operating system, which metric is most crucial?

Accepted Answer

Time taken to detect and respond to security incidents

Answer

Number of security patches installed

Answer

Cost of implementing security measures

Answer

Number of security vulnerabilities discovered

Question 21

Which process involves collecting, analyzing, and reporting evidence in security incident analysis?

Accepted Answer

Evidence collection, analysis, and reporting

Answer

Evidence collection, analysis, containment, and reporting

Answer

Evidence collection, containment, and reporting

Answer

Evidence analysis, reporting, and containment

Question 22

Which type of malware is designed to spread itself to other systems without user interaction?

Accepted Answer

Worm

Answer

Adware

Answer

Trojan horse

Answer

Spyware

Question 23

An email claiming to be from a trusted source (like a bank) asks you to click a link to update your account information. This is a classic example of which type of attack?

Accepted Answer

Phishing

Answer

Denial-of-service

Answer

SQL Injection

Answer

Man-in-the-middle

Question 24

Which security measure protects sensitive data stored on your computer by encrypting it while it's not in use?

Accepted Answer

Disk encryption

Answer

Firewall

Answer

Intrusion detection system

Answer

Antivirus software

Question 25

A hacker exploits a newly discovered vulnerability in a web server before the developers have a chance to patch it. This vulnerability is known as a:

Accepted Answer

Zero-day exploit

Answer

SQL injection

Answer

Cross-site scripting

Answer

Buffer overflow

Question 26

Which of these actions is NOT a good security practice for operating systems?

Accepted Answer

Disabling automatic updates

Answer

Keeping software up to date

Answer

Using strong passwords

Answer

Enabling firewalls

Question 27

What security principle ensures that users and applications have only the permissions they need to perform their tasks?

Accepted Answer

Least privilege

Answer

Defense in depth

Answer

Authentication

Answer

Separation of duties

Question 28

Which security technique is most commonly used to prevent unauthorized access to Wi-Fi networks, ensuring only authorized devices can join?

Accepted Answer

WPA2/WPA3 encryption

Answer

Antivirus software

Answer

Disk encryption

Answer

Firewall configuration

Question 29

You accidentally download a file containing malware. Which security measure can help detect and remove this malware from your system?

Accepted Answer

Antivirus software

Answer

Data loss prevention

Answer

Intrusion detection system

Answer

Firewall

Question 30

What is the primary benefit of implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA) for user accounts?

Accepted Answer

Enhanced account security

Answer

Faster login times

Answer

Increased data storage capacity

Question 31

A company uses a system that constantly monitors network traffic for suspicious activity and alerts administrators if it detects any potential threats. What is this system called?

Accepted Answer

Intrusion detection system

Answer

Antivirus software

Answer

Firewall

Answer

Data loss prevention